... And Monty Python's Flying Circus, the surreal brainchild of a bunch of Oxbridge graduates, is frequently hailed as its finest hour. And then, in more than one interview, John Cleese says that Life of Brian is the thing he wants to be remembered for when he dies. So, it follows that this film ... Read review
There is not a single joke, sight-gag or one-liner inMonty Python's Life of Brianthat will ... more
not forever burn itself into the viewer's memory as being just as funny as it is possible to be, but--extraordinarily--almost every indestructibly hilarious scen...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
There is not a single joke, sight-gag or one-liner inMonty Python's Life of Brianthat will ... more
not forever burn itself into the viewer's memory as being just as funny as it is possible to be, but--extraordinarily--almost every indestructibly hilarious scen...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
You could say this is one of the greatest comedies ever but the Monty Python team said it ... more
first! Life of Brian is all about (and here's the big surprise) the life of Brian who was born in a Bethlehem manger next door to Jesus. Three wise men believe ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Monty Python delivers a scathing, anarchic satire of both religion and Hollywood's ... more
depiction of all things biblical with their second film. The setting is Judea 33 A.D., a time of poverty and chaos, with no shortage of messiahs, followers willing to be...
There is not a single joke, sight-gag or one-liner inMonty Python's Life of Brianthat will ... more
not forever burn itself into the viewer's memory as being just as funny as it is possible to be, but--extraordinarily--almost every indestructibly hilarious scen...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Introduction Brian Song The Wise Men At The Manger Brian Song (Part 2) Sermon On The Mount ... more
(Big Nose) Stone Salesman Stoning Ex-Leper You Mean You Were Raped? (Nortius Maximus) Link To Revolutionaries In The Amphitheatre (Loretta) Revolutionaries In The Amphitheatre (Loretta) Romans Go Home What Have The Romans Ever Done For Us? Ben Brian Before Pilate (Throw Him To The Floor) Prophets Beard Salesman Brian's Prophecy The Hermit He's Not The Messiah He's A Very Naughty Boy Pilate Sentences Brian Nisus Wettus Pilate With The Crowd (Welease Wodger) Nisus Wettus With The Gaolers Release Brian Not So Bad Once You're Up Revs Salute Brian Cheeky Is Released Mandy To Her Son Look On The Bright Side Of Life (All Things Dull And Ugly) Otto Sketch Otto Song Otto Song Demo (Python Sings) Brian Song (Alternate Version) Radio Ad - Record Shop Radio Ad - Twice As Good
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
When "The Life of Brian" was first released in 1979 it was hailed by most as Monty ... more
Python's finest parody and denounced by a few as the most blasphemous film of all time. But with its unforgettable songs and its infinitely quotable script it has gone on to become an enduring cult classic.
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
Regularly voted one of the funniest films of all time, 'Monty Python's Life Of Brian' ... more
delivers the smartest and sharpest satire from the Python team (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin), and this spectacularly immaculate two disc set is the very best way to revisit this classic comedy.Born into a time of chaos and change, Brian Cohen is reluctantly caught up in a new wave of religion sweeping 33 A.D. Judea when he is mistaken for the promised messiah. What follows is a biblical comedy of errors that questions everyone and everything, from ex-lepers, Pontius Pilate and haggling to revolutionaries, crazy prophets and crucifixion!
Monty Python delivers a scathing, anarchic satire of both religion and Hollywood's ... more
depiction of all things biblical with their second film. The setting is Judea 33 A.D, a time of poverty and chaos, with no shortage of messiahs, followers willing to believe in them, and exasperated Romans trying to impose some order. At the centre of it all is Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman), a reluctant would-be messiah who rises to prominence as a result of a series of absurd and truly hilarious circumstances providing ample opportunity for the entire ensemble (John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Chapman) to shine in multiple roles as they mock everyone and everything from ex-lepers, Pontius Pilate, and the art of haggling to crazy prophets, Roman centurions, and crucifixion.
Comedy - Director: Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Carol Cleveland, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Production Year: 2004 - Comedy - Director: John Hay - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jimi Mistry, Kate Miles, Dougray Scott
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
...best in the world. And Monty Python's Flying Circus, the surreal brainchild of a bunch of Oxbridge graduates, is frequently hailed as its finest hour. And then, in more than one interview, John Cleese says that Life of Brian is the thing he wants to be remembered for when he dies. So, it follows that this film must be the funniest thing ever made.
And, for once, this is true. Life of Brian is an utterly and consistently brilliant ... ...the writing that often dominated Monty Python's television incarnation (let's be honest, a lot of it was rubbish) is jettisoned for a remarkably tightly-structured narrative. The regular Python cast of Terry Jones, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam are running around brilliantly-shot locations in Tunisia, having nicked someone else's film set. Stock footage and crowd scenes from other Biblical epics are skillfully ... more
British comedy is, of course, the best in the world. And Monty Python's Flying Circus, the surreal brainchild of a bunch of Oxbridge graduates, is frequently hailed as its finest hour. And then, in more than one interview, John Cleese says that Life of Brian is the thing he wants to be remembered for when he dies. So, it follows that this film must be the funniest thing ever made.
And, for once, this is true. Life of Brian is an utterly and consistently brilliant film from its Bond parody opening credits right the way through to Eric Idle's rousing singalong Always Look on the Bright Side of Life from the top of that green hill far away. Every time I watch it, it's with a slightly anxious expression, waiting for that one duff gag, the one dodgy scene that will tarnish the film's magnificence. It never happens. I have lost count of the times I have watched it, and yet it still never fails to raise many, many laughs.
The film follows the adventures of Brian, a young man from Jerusalem who desperately wants to join the fight against the occupying Roman Army. On the way he evades capture through a thrilling space-battle, falls in love and improves his Latin grammar.
The hit-and-miss approach to the writing that often dominated Monty Python's television incarnation (let's be honest, a lot of it was rubbish) is jettisoned for a remarkably tightly-structured narrative. The regular Python cast of Terry Jones, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam are running around brilliantly-shot locations in Tunisia, having nicked someone else's film set. Stock footage and crowd scenes from other Biblical epics are skillfully woven in to give the appearance of a much larger budget which results in a highly polished production. With five Oxbridge graduates running around dressed as women. It truly demands to be seen in this widescreen format, which gives a true epic scale to a very very silly film. Great stuff.
Ah, that word. Biblical. I'm not sure what annoys me more about the continuing attempts to burn the filmmakers for heresy, or whatever the hell it is those placard-waving morons outside cinemas actually want to do. There's the absurd suggestion that a film should be banned for portraying the life of Christ in a humourous light. But then I also get cheesed off at the extremely lily-livered attempts by the film's backers to pretend that the film's not disrespectful to religion.
Come off it!!! One of the greatest things about this film is the way in which it seeks to expose self-righteous hypocrites and cretins. Brian would love to be the Messiah, rather than just a very naughty boy, and he keeps trying to preach his message of being non-judgemental and free-thinking. But although he is worshipped, no one actually listens to his message, splitting into rival cults and yelling things like 'Heretic! Persecute! Burn!' at them. So, really, all the rabid morons are doing is living up to their depiction in the film. But Brian's not actually meant to be Jesus, in case you were wondering, because Jesus is seen in the film twice, and is name-checked by the 'ex-leper'.
There is an insane vicar somewhere in the UK that is still campaigning to have the film banned, and he cheerfully admits that he still hasn't actually seen it. Which says all you need to know about fundamentalists, really.
Life of Brian contains a lot of unforgettable comedy moments, from the oft-quoted and slightly over-rated crowd scene ('He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy') to the forgotten gems such as Brian's conception ('You were raped?' 'Well, at first...'). The timing is brilliant, the acting is exactly as straight as it needs to be and Terry Gilliam's delirious animated sequence looks like the TV version of the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy (ie, brilliant).
The film is rated a 15, for full-frontal nudity and naughty words. Of course, I think this censorship sucks, so watch it with my blessing, kids.
There's little doubt that, for an atheist and general troublemaker like me, the controversy and debate surrounding Life of Brian has added enormously to its appeal. At one point, the mere act of watching the film was an act of defiance against an insane establishment. Brilliant as it is, without all the hysteria it probably wouldn't get the top spot in anyone's list of the greatest films ever made. As it is, however, the film provides some hilarious wordplay, slapstick, black comedy and satire while providing a fascinating meta-commentary on the stupidity of religious intolerance.
Advantages: A hilariously funny film Disadvantages: Some might still find it offensive
...first time I ever saw Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) was when Channel 4 showed it as part of their banned season when I was at school (it would have been late 80s/early 90s). I sneaked a video tape in to the machine to record it as coming from a very Christian family I didn't want to upset anyone but I really wanted to see what all the fuss was about and if this film really did contain all the blasphemous content that had earned it a ban. Imagine ... ...Unlike their previous film Monty Python and The Holy Grail where each of the main characters has a section of the film to themselves, this film follows events and scenes which either include or directly involve Brian and it is this focus on the central character that stops this film from becoming a series of silly/funny episodes. The scenes and scenarios are beautifully crafted with the majority of the humour coming from exaggerations of everyday ...
Suzela 12.12.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monty Python's Life Of Brian (DVD)
Advantages: Amazingly funny Disadvantages: Is total irreverence a disadvantage?
...the crowd; one thing about Monty Python’s humour is that it is both slapstick and intellectual in a curiously successful blend, from the naked ascetic being trodden upon after years of silence, being carried off by the mob to the mass group assembled all reciting in lock-step fashion, ‘Yes, we are all individuals – we have to think for ourselves.’ There are the typical Monty Python cartoons at a few instances (the credits, for instance, overlaid ... ...in the plot). The Monty Python regulars of John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin (each playing multiple roles as usual) are joined by Sue Jones-Davies as the primary female lead (apart from Brian’s mother, played by of course one of the troupe, Terry Jones), and small cameos by George Harrison and Spike Milligan.
Alas, the DVD doesn't offer too much by way of extras, save the theatrical trailers and a ...
frkurt 03.04.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monty Python's Life Of Brian (DVD)
Advantages: The Pythons' finest hour. The funniest film of all time? Disadvantages: None basically.
...this is a more polished Monty Python production. This initial impression is sustained throughout the entire film, which is why it is so remarkable because even at their funniest, the Monty Python team were guilty of inconsisitencies in the quality of their comedy. If you were to compare 'The Life of Brian' with the generally excellent 'Holy Grail', for example, there are some notably weaker sequences in the latter, a fault that is avoided here. The ... ...a brief history of the Monty Python phenomenon as well as the individual projects of each member. The intelligence of each performer makes for an interesting programme and also makes you wonder how such clever men can produce such anarchic characters and humour which is often extremely childish but so funny.
OVERALL
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''
This film does contain bad language and themes that some may find offensive, but taken in the correct ...
dc1971 14.07.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monty Python's Life Of Brian (DVD)
Advantages: Extremely Funny Disadvantages: May Offend Some
...opinion here on Ciao, about Monty Python’s Holy Grail, I rummaged through my videos to see exactly what I still had remaining on VHS, and there it was, my favourite of the Monty Python films – “The Life of Brian”.
I cannot believe that this film was released 23 years ago! I was watching this and laughing just as much as the first time that I watched it (around 14 years ago). Starring:
· Graham Chapman
· John Cleese
· Terry ... ...Duration: 94 Mins
Release Date: 1979
Genre: Comedy, Cult
Rating: 15
~ Overview ~
This film is largely based around the character Brian of Nazareth (hence the title), who happened to be born a short distance away from Jesus and in similar surroundings i.e. a manger in a den. The story jumps straight to his adult years when he soon finds out that his father is Roman and slept with a Jewish prostitute (his mother), and in fact his father is a Roman ...
Wolfie1974 08.09.2002
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monty Python's Life Of Brian (DVD)
Brian or Jesus or a Comedy of Christ – More than just funny its sacrilegious
=======================================================
Circa 1979 Tunisia, aka Judea 0 AD. A star is above Bethlehem, and it is bringing three wise men to find their messiah, the king of kings. Immediately I am on rocky ground as a non believer, as I delve into my shaky religious past and teachings. To date [1min] though the plot seems to follow accepted biblical historic ... ...they meet the ever so glam mum of the new born king. The elegancy of the new king’s mum, steals your imagination, and the baby well we all now the bible story, it is of course, “Brian”.
This is a highly satirical and scathing depiction of religion attacking the Christian belief right to its core. We see the magic of the Pythons at its very best as they pop up at every turn, as Romans, Judeans and Trotskyite Disciples of Jesus, aka the PFJ (Peoples ...
bigfatdogs 28.04.2007 (18.04.2007)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monty Python's Life Of Brian (DVD)
Did you enjoy it?
Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
How does it compare to ...
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Monty Python's Life Of Brian (DVD)"
Advantages: A collection of all the great Monty Python movies Disadvantages: Some movies, ie., Monty Python and the Meaning of Life, have no extra features
, as I found it unfunny mostly, and a waste of time. I have only seen it once, and that was when I first watched it after purchasing this DVD box set.
The acting is brilliant and while scenarios are quite often absurd and sometimes feeling quite random, acting sometimes feels as though it could be real. The acting is naturally funny as well, backing to the jokes that are made, causing these films to be the funniest I have ever witnessed in my life.
~~~ The DVDs ~~~
So, the box set has 4 DVD cases in, compromising 5 DVDs. These are the three films; MontyPython and the Holy Grail, MontyPython's Life of Brian and MontyPython and the Meaning of Life, as well as the movie of Flying Circus; MontyPython's And Now For Something Completely Different.
~~~ DVD Features ~~~
DVD features I found were generally lacking, following ...
DVD as part of a box set along with "And Now For Something Completley Different", "The Life Of Brian" (by far the best MontyPython film ever) and the below par "Meaning of Life". It's available on two-disc DVD seperatley, usually between £11.99 and £17.99. However, there are the new special editions recently released with a script book, postcards (left blank for your amusement!) and a genuine 35mm still from the film. Personally, I would go for that disc rather than the one I have just reviewed. Which is more than a little annoying for me as I'm going to have to shell out on that again...
Overall, if you're a MontyPython fan then you need this film in your collection. If you're not, you still need to see it and the plethera of special features will certainly compliment your taster in to this silly world of mayhem. I would reccommend ...
George Harrison, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
Composer
George Harrison, Geoffrey Burgon, Andre Jacquemin, David Howman, Eric Idle
Languages
Main Language
English
Hearing Impaired Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
The Pythons Documentary, Theatrical Trailer
Aspect Ratio
1.85 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Stereo
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English, Dolby Digital Stereo English
Professional reviews
Review
"...Just when you thought that the uproarious English comedy troupe had taken bad taste as far as it could go....Bad taste of this order is rare but not yet dead..." (New York Times, p.C15, 17/08/1979)
"...The funniest movie ever made..." (Total Film, )
DVD Description
Monty Python delivers a scathing, anarchic satire of both religion and Hollywood's depiction of all things biblical with their second--and tightest--full-length film. The setting is the Holy Land in 33 A.D., a time of poverty and chaos, with no shortage of messiahs, followers willing to believe in them, and exasperated Romans trying to impose some order. At the center of it all is Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman), a reluctant would-be messiah who rises to prominence as a result of a series of absurd and truly hilarious circumstances that parallel the life of Christ--providing ample opportunity for the entire ensemble (John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Chapman) to shine in multiple roles as they blaspheme and mock everyone and everything from ex-lepers, Pontius Pilate, and the art of haggling to crazy prophets, Roman centurions, and crucifixion. Directed by Python Terry Jones, MONTY PYTHON'S LIFE OF BRIAN is an uproarious biblical parody that does to ancient Rome what THE HOLY GRAIL did to the Middle Ages. Rome is run by pathetic wimps, liberation fronts fight with each other over acronyms, and gladiators put on bloody children's matinees as the people search desperately for someone to lead them out of their life of misery and poverty. And Brian is that man. Sort of. Well, not really. Chapman excels as Brian, a simple, quiet man suddenly thrust in the role of leading the revolution--while constantly being yelled at by his shrew of a mother.
Compare Monty Python's Life Of Brian (DVD) to other similar Comedy »
Similar products and search queries by other users »
Monty DVD, Monty Pythons DVD, Monty Life DVD, Monty Of DVD, Monty Brian DVD, Monty Pythons Life DVD, Monty Pythons Of DVD, Monty Pythons Brian DVD, Monty Life Of DVD, Monty Life Brian DVD, Monty Of Brian DVD, Monty Pythons Life Of DVD, Monty Pythons Life Brian DVD, Monty Pythons Of Brian DVD, Monty Life Of Brian DVD
Are you the manufacturer / provider of Monty Python's Life Of Brian (DVD)? Click here
![Monty Python's Life Of Brian [DVD] [1979]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78524233.jpg)
![Monty Python's Life Of Brian [DVD] [1979]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/70950181.jpg)
![Monty Python's Life Of Brian Dvd [1979] | Idle](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/105579738.jpg "Monty Python's Life Of Brian Dvd [1979] | Idle")
![Monty Python's Life Of Brian [Immaculate Edition]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/103265875.jpg "Monty Python's Life Of Brian [Immaculate Edition]")
